ChipGuide - The Online Information Source For Casino Chip Collectors

S. S. Caliente

501 Pico Ave
Long Beach, California
Type: Illegal
Status: Closed
Open: 1937, Close: 1939

A gambling ship anchored three miles off the coast of Long Beach, California. Owned by Marion Hicks, who later owned the "El Cortez" in Las Vegas, along with partners. The S.S. Caliente changed its name briefly to Sho-Boat before being raided and closed by federal authorities in August 1939.

Advertisement from 7/3/1937 (Daily News), graphic from an invitation posted below.

About Illegal Casinos - by their nature, information about illegal, or unlicensed, casinos is hard to find and difficult to verify. Information presented on the ChipGuide about these casinos is provided as the result of our best efforts but may not be 100% accurate. Even if the information is accurate, gamblers move around and may take their equipment with them; items used in one casino may have also been used in others. Please send verified information about illegal casinos to the ChipGuide so that we may improve our accuracy.

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Casino Money

Table Chips (2) [QuickView]

CG184494 Obsolete
Added: 2017-10-05
Last Update: 2017-10-06
Color: Lavender
Mold: ZigZag
Inlay: HS Gold
Contributed by: Torrey Morand

CG184595 Obsolete
Added: 2017-10-08
Color: Black
Mold: ZigZag
Inlay: HS Gold
Contributed by: Torrey Morand

Casino Collectibles

Match Books (1) [QuickView]

CG225299
Issued: 1939
Added: 2019-06-27
Last Update: 2022-12-03
Contributed by: Doug Deems

The S.S. Caliente changed its name to Sho-Boat, for a short period before being raided by federal authorities.

Other Items (5) [QuickView]

CG150123
Issued: 1936
Added: 2015-09-11
Last Update: 2023-08-13
Contributed by: Dave Hepburn

Ad

CG184598
Issued: 07/03/1937
Added: 2017-10-08
Last Update: 2023-08-13

Ad, https://jhgraham.com/2017/10/08/how-the-housing-crisis-brought-down-the-gambling-ships/

CG124339
Added: 2014-08-22
Last Update: 2014-08-22

Complimentary dinner ticket

CG184599
Added: 2017-10-08
Inlay: HS Gold

Invitation

CG184596
Issued: 1937
Added: 2017-10-08
Inlay: HS Gold
Contributed by: Torrey Morand

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Total Items (8)